Coal-cutting and similar machine



July i3 1926.

S. MQORE coAL CUTTING AND SIMILAR MACHINE 4 Sheets-Smet 1 Filed May 6, 1922 e SSM Fig-3.

Inventor litem/ey.

July 13 1926,

M. S. MOORE COAL CUTTING AND SIMILAR MACHINE Filed May 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Steet 5 Inventor by i-W: .dorney.

M.` S. MOORE COAL CUTTING AND SIMILAR MACHINE AFiled May e, 1922 -July I3 1926.

July 13 1926.

M. S. MOORE COAL CUTTING AND SIMILAR MACHINE Filed May 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor M. f MW:

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@Svi/"7 I .orrwy ATN?? QFFICE.

MATTHE'W SMITI-I MOORE, GF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO C V. ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED, OF STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENG- LAND, A JOINT-STOCK CORPORATION OF ENGLAND.

COAL-CUTTING AND SIMILAR MACHINE.

Application filed May 6. 1922, Serial No. 559,063, and in Great Britain May` 6, 1921.

This invention relates to coal cutting and similar machines and especially relates to the haulage gear therefor.

The invention has for its general object to improve the utility and eificiency of such machines.

According to the invention in addition to the usual haulage drum, ay drum is provided at the tail end of the machine, for the purio pose of anchoring the tail end of the machine in positions Where as in the room and pillar method of working, it is required to dispose the haulage rope in a position substantially at right angles to the longitudinal centre line of the body of the machine, and it is necessary to provide means to maintain the cutting tool up to its work. Thus by anchoring the tail end by means of this additional drum, the body yof the machine may be moved by the haulage rope upon the anchoring drum as centre, whereby the cutting tool in a position for example in line with the longitudinal centre line of the machine body, may thus be moved in an arc of a circle on the periodic winding of the haulage drum, and the anchoring rope may be periodically released as the cutting operation progresses, and so that the body of the machine may thus be repeatedly moved in an arc of a circle upon the anchoring drum as a centre and in the intervals the anchoring rope may be released. For this purpose the haulage drum may be mounted on one side of the longitudinal axis of the body ofthe machine near the tail end and the anchoring drum at the other side, and the anchoring drum may be provided with an integral rim adapted to receive a brake v band. One end of the brake band may be secured to a screw threadedv spindle carried within a bracket or fitting secured upon the frame of the machine and this screw threaded spindle may be operated by means of an internal screw threaded boss integrally provided with a hand or operating wheel, so that thus in working in the manner described, the brake drum may be released for the release of the anchoring rope so that thus under tension of the haulage rope applied near the cutter end of the machine, the tail end of the machine may move forv. ard and the cutter end continue to be pr0- gressively moved as usual in the operation of the haulage gear.

rlhe anchoring' drum thus provided at the tail end of the machine may also serve for the reception of a safety rope when using the machine for example in steeply inclined positions when working on the long wall method of winning coal. For this purpose the safety rope may be passed around the anchoring or safety drum and the safety rope may be extended out parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe machine and be secured to anchoring posts.

It will be understood that the haulage drum and the tail anchoring or safety rope drum are mounted upon vertical spindles in oppositely disposed positions at the tail end of the machine and they may be mounted so as to be interchangeable so that thus when the safety rope is used it may be always disposed upon the gob side out of the way of the operator.

It will be understood that in the haulage of the machine in working on the long wall method, the safety rope drum is free to rotate to permit of this movement, but that the reverse movement of the drum is prevented by means of a pawl engaging in a ratchet wheel which is integrally provided upon the safety rope drum. For this purpose the drum may be provided with an annular recess for the safety rope or the anchoring rope, and at one end may be provided with the brake` rim and at the other may be integrally formed as a ratchet wheel.

According to the invention the step by step movement of the haulage drum is ef fected by ratchet gear adapted to be adjusted to cause a periodic movement to be given to the machine in the operation of the cutting tool, so that the extent of movement may be varied according to the extent of resistance and the character and extent of in aterial to be removed, and according to the invention moreover alternative means are provided whereby the haulage rope may be continuously driven at a high speed as required when moving the machine from place to place.

According to the invention moreover the construction is such that it is readily adapted for use either for rope haulage or for chain haulage, it being required to replace the haulage drum and the anchoring or safety rope drum by chain sprockets or drums. Furthermore the ratchet gear is adapted Utl to be reversed in position so that the direc tion of rotation of the haulage drum may be reversed.

The invention comprises the constructional features hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figures l to 6 show various views of haulage gear applicable to coal cutting and similar machines Constructed for use according to the invention.

Figure l is a sectional elevation on the line l--l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure l in which the top plate of the casing is shown as removed.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on 'the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure a' is a. sectional plan on the line --sl of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a 5 5 of Figure l.

Figure G is a detail sectional elevation on the line (3 6 of Figure '-l.

Figure 'i' illustrates ciiagraminatically the manner of operation of the hauling gear in the room and pillar7 method of .vorling.

Figure 8 illustrates diagrammatically the manner of operation of the hauling gear in the long wall method of working in which he suplementary drum is employed for use with a safety rope in the manner hereinlz-efore described.

In carrying the invention into effect the haulage mechanism may comprise a centrally disposed vertical shaft a in front of :and between the respective haulage drum and tail anchoring or safety rope drum and movement may be imparted to this coninuously rotating vertical shaft a from the -usual longitudinally disposed motor shaft a by'worm io and worm gear w1; and movement may be transmitted from this continuously rotating vertical shaft a through pawl and ratchet gear d e to the haulage drum c. For this purpose the ratchet wheel c is mounted upon a vertical shaft g in an adjacent position to the vertical shaft a, and izetween and in front of the respective haulage drum c and tail anchoring or safety rope drum o. For this purpose a slotted lever 7L is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 7 and f".-perates in a horizontal plane, the slotted lever being adapted to be reciproca-ted through an arc of a circle by means of or crank al and an ecccntrically disposed crank pin e2 which has mounted upon it a block a adapted to slide within the slotil in the slotted lever 7L. This slotted lever is advantageously provided with a. pivoting end formed of two plates or parts if having concentric holes therein by which they may be applied upon rings z' carried by the ratchet wheel e, which may be centrally disdetail section on the line posed between them. These plates or parts serve also to carry between them the driv ing pawl Z which is normally maintained engaged in the teeth of the ratchet wheel e by means of a spiral spring (Z1. The boss of the ratchet wheel e is also adapted io receive a concentrically disposed cam plate j (Figure or shield integrally formed with a toothed segment jl, and a shield j adapted to be moved into position between the teeth of the ratchet wheel e and the driving pawl (I. The toothed segment y" is also provided with a protruding part j to determine, by contact with a fixed stop j", the position in which the teeth of the ratchet wheel e are exposer to the full extent. The toothed segment is adapted to be adjusted by means of a worm mounted upon a spindle it carried in the frame of the machine, and capable of operation by means of an operating wheel L12, mounted upon the outwardly protruding part of the spindle, which is exposed for operation at the tail end of the machine. Thus it will be understood that on the rotation of this spindle b1, the toothed segment jl may be moved to the extent desired to cover over the Yteeth of the latch-it wheel by means of the shield. as may be required to effect the necessari.' amount of periodic movement to be iinparted to the haulage drum c, according to the work required to he done by the cutting tool.

It will be understood that the haulage drum o is rotated, from the vertical shaft ,f/ by means of a toothed pinion g1, gearing with a. toothed wheel c2 mounted upon th:1 vertical shaft c upon which the drum c is mounted.

A top plate g is adapted to be applied in position upon the upper part m1 of the frame. On the removal of the top plate g the ratchet and pawl mechanism is exposed as illustrated in Figure 9.

.n the construction illustrated in Figure Q it will be understood that the stop 7" duplicated on each side as well as the boss for the reception of the spindle el so that thus the cam plate or shield j as well as the ratchet wheel c are adanted to be reversed for the reverse operation of the gear. A spring pawl cn which is also adapted 'to be reversed in position is provided as a means to hold the ratchet wheel e from reverse rotation.

According to one preferred construction the haulage drum c is mounted upon a hollow shaft c3 which in turn is freely mounted upon a fixed spindle 01 whose lower end is supported on the base m of the machine frame and whose upper end is held in the upper part m1 of the frame. The lower part of the hollow shaft is provided of an external conical form for the reception of the haulage drum c. The haulage drinn c may have the annular cavity of the drum lil.;

described and the toothed wheel c2 may `7 he slidably keyed to the hollow shaft c3. Above the toothed wheel c2 a wheel c4 is mounted adapted to vserve as a nut. This wheel c'l has its boss provided with an internal screw thread to engage with a corresponding external screw thread upon the upper end of the hollow shaft c3, so that thus on the rotation of the wheel c4, pressure is applied upon the boss of the toothed wheel c2 which in turn is communicated to 1 'the boss of the haulage drum o, whereby its lower end where the bore is formed conical is pressed upon the conical end of the hollow shaft c3, so that thus the drum c may be pressed in position upon the shaft 03 with varying pressure.

The pressure applying wheel c4 is advantageously provided as a disc with massive radial arms c5, which thus serve as means by which a hammer may be applied to rotate the wheel in the direction to apply pressure, or in the direction to release the drum c from the e conical shaft. Simple means are thus provided by which the drum c may be caused to be free in emergencies,

' and thus to avoid the further movement of the machine.

Means are provided to permit of the haulage drum c being continuously rotated at high speed as may be required in moving the machine from place to place. Such means may consist of a vertical shaft 1e (Figures l and 1l) disposedin position between the continuously rotating vertical shaft a and the shaft g. rThis intermediate shaft n has mounted upon it a pinion n? capable of sliding from one position to another. rhis pinion nl is so set as always to be engaged and to be rotated by the pinion g1 mounted upon the shaft g, but is normally out of gear with another pinion a* mounted in a corresponding position upon the continuously rotating vertical shaft a.

'Gn 'the sliding pinion nl being lowered, it engages with the pinion a upon the continuously rotating vertical shaft a and by such means a continuous and rapid movement is directly imparted to the gear c2.

It will be understood. that in the period ot continuous rotation at high speed the ratchet and pawl mechanism may be rendered inoperative in any suitable manner or the slotted lever 7L together with its attendant parts may be removed from the shaft g.

The sliding pinion nl may be caused to move by any suitable means such as Jfor eX- ample by a fork lever a2 engaging in an annular recess a3 formed'upon the boss oi the sli/ding pinion, and may be provided with means by' which its disengaged or engaged position is definitely set.

In a central position corresponding to 'the longitudinal centre line of the body of vthe machine and at the tail end thereof,

another shaft may be iXedly mounted between the base part m and the upper part m1 of the frame, and this shaftY `o may also serve to carry the ends of the brake strapmb2 Vwhichv may be applied upon the tail anchoring drum l). For this purpose the brake strap 52 may be formed into a loop to pass around the shaft 0 and its opposite end may be connected to a screw threaded spindle b4 which passes transversely through the shaft o. A brake operating wheel b3 mounted upon the outwardly protruding end of the screw threaded spindle Z2? serves to apply tension upon the brake strap b2 and thus to arrest the movement ot orto release the tail anchoring drum b.

The tail anchoring drum t is mounted upon a sleeve p carried upon the fixed vertical spindle p1, the lower end of which is supported in the base part m of the frame and the upper end carried in the upperpart m1 of the frame. The lower part ot the drum b is provided as a toothed ratchet wheel b which may be engaged by the spring pawl b as a means for lpreventing the reverse rotation of 'the drum as when the drum is used for a safety rope in the manner stood that the parts carried by the drums b and c may also be exchanged and thus the gear czinay be mounted in the same position as it formerly occupied with respect to the drum c.

At each side of the haulage end of the machine, adjustable lateral supports r are provided by which the respective sides of the machine body may bevaried in height 'for the purpose of the necessary adjustments to the cutter end of the machine as fully described in the specification of a copending application Jforming no part of the present invention.

The manner of use of a coal cutting machine provided with haulage gear as hereinbefore. described is illustated in Figure 7 as applied to the room and pillar method of working. As illustrated in this figure the tail drum b is used Jfor anchoring the tail end of the machine by means of the rope s, one end of which is secured to an anchoring post and the rope several times wound upon the drum. By this means the machine may be moved by the haulage rope t upon the anchoring drum b as a centre whereby the cutting tool u may thus be repeatedly moved in an arc of a circle as the haulage drum c is operated. For this purpose the anchoring rope s may by release ot the brake strap b2 (Figure Il) be periodically released as the cutting operation proceeds so that thus the body of the machine is repeatedly moved through an arc of a circle as the cutting operation proceeds, for example from the position indicated in full lines in Figure 7 into the position indicated in dotted lines and until the operation is completed along the Working face.

Or again the anchoring rope s may by careful operation be gradually released as the cutting operation proceeds, so that thus the machine may be maintained substantially normal to the Working face.

The manner of use of the coal cutting machine tor example in steeply inclined positions Worked on the long Wall method is illustrated in FigureS. In this ligure the drum I) serves for the reception of the safety rope s extended straight, taut and parallel with the longitudinal axis ot the machine and secured at its respective ends to anchoring posts, the rope passing several turns around the tail drum Z9.

It will be understood that in the haulage oit the machine. along the Working 'tace by the operation of the haulage drum c upon the haulage rope t, the drum Z) rotates and the machine is held by the safety rope against movement in a direction opposite to that in Which it is being hauled along the working tace. This is effected by the action ci' the spring pan/l b which engages the teeth ff of the drum so that thus the reverse movement of the drum is prevented.

ln adapting a machine of the construction hereinbeiore described for chain haulage, it will be understood that it is only necessary to remove the tail anchoring drum b and the haulage drum c and to substitute chain drums or sprockets on their respective shafts, and instead of the toothed Wheel upon the continuously rotating vertical shaft a to mount thereon a chain sprocket; in addition to which a chain sprocket may be mounted upon the fixed shaft o centrally mounted at the tail end of the machine as immediately before described. Thus the haulage chain may pass around the chain sprocket mounted upon the shaft of the tail anchoring drum thence back around the driving sprocket on the continuously rot-ating vertical driving shaft a, then returning rearwardly to and passing over the sprocket upon the centrally disposed izied shaft 0, and thence passing over the sprocket or drum mounted upon the shai't ot the haulage drum c.

lt will thus be. understood that such a gear is adapted for chain haulage or rope haulage, and that the arrangement is applicable to the various methods employed for Winning coal and in positions at an inclination or under any other conditions and that by the use ci vertical shafts, the rope or chain for hauling the machine may be led from the side of `he machine so as to be out of the Way of the operator.

l claim:

fr coal cutting machine having a centrally disposed driving gear which may drive a haulage drum disposed in position on either side ci' the said gear and having a braking drum Which may occupy the said position opposite to and alternately with said haulage drum.

A coal cutting machine having two oppositely disposed spindles, tivo mutually interchangeable haulage and braking drums carried upon said spindles, driving means for eil'ecting the rotation of the haulage drum, and vbraking mechanism and one-way clutch mechanism interchangeably mounted to be applied to the braking drum when in its position on either of the said spindles.

8. A coal cutting machine having two oppositely disposed spindles, a haulage drum and a braking drum carried by said spindles, said drums being interchangeable, a power driven shaft, a step by step driving mechanism and one vfay clutch mechanism operated by said power driven shaft and inipart-ing movement to the haulage drum in its position on either of said spindles, said step by step driving mechanism and one-way clutch mechanism being interchangeably mounted so as to be applied to said braking drum in its position on either ot said spindles opposite to the said haulage drum.

MATTHEV SMITH MOORE. 

